Ordnance



May 16, 1944. J. c. TROTTER 2,349,124

ORDNANCE Filed Feb. 9, 1942 Fig.1.

INVENTOR y Jghn CTrofiwr' QM, WM? Ja.

AT ORNEYS Patented May 16, 1944 ORDNANCEI John C. Trotter, Williamsville, N. Y., assignor to Bell Aircraft Corporation, Buifalo, N. Y.

Application February 9, 1942, Serial No. 429,987

7 Claims.

This invention relates to guns of the rapid fire type, and more particularly to recoil shock absorbing and counter recoil control mechanisms for use in conjunction with guns particularly such as are mounted upon tanks, airplanes, or the like. One of the objects of the invention is to provide, in conjunction with a rapid fire gun a structurally improved form of recoil shock absorbing mechanism. Another. object of the invention is to provide a recoil shock absorbing and counter-recoil control mechanism for relatively heavy caliber rapid fire guns wherein the operative elements thereof are of improved and simplified structural form, and wherein a reduced number of relatively sliding parts are employed. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved gun recoil and counter-recoil controlling mechanism which incorporates improved means for damping both the recoil and counter-recoil strokes of the gun. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification hereinafter. In the drawing:

Fig, 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a rapid fire gun having a recoil and counter-recoil control mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially along line II-II of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are longitudinal sectional views, on an enlarged scale, through certain of the valve devices of the recoil and counter-recoil control mechanism.

The drawing illustrates the invention in connection with a gun having a barrel II] which is slidably reciprocable within a fixed casing or other supporting structure indicated at I2. Thus, the barrel I is arranged to reciprocate longitudinally in connection with recoil and.

counter-recoil actions thereof under gun firing conditions, and it will be understood that the casing structure I2 may comprise anysuitable gun casing element or a fixed bracket disposed to extend from any stationary base or moving vehicle; or it may comprise any other suitable form of gun supporting structure such as a hollow airplane propeller shaft through which the gun is arranged to fire, or the like.

A compression spring I 4 is slip-fitted about the gun barrel Ill so as to bear at its inner end portion against the support casing I2. A spring retainer I6 of tubular form i mounted concentrically of the gun battery to substantially enclose the spring I4. The retainer I6 is formed with a reduced abutment portion I! at its outer end which bears upon the barrel I 0 and provides an abutment for bearing against the outer end of the compression spring I4. UIpon final assem bly of the mechanism a collar I8 is fitted upon the outer end of the gun barrel so a to bear against the retainer I6, and is arranged to be detachably fixed to the gun barrel so as to firmly position theretainer against the action of the spring I4. Thus, it will be understood that in connection with each firing operation of the gun the gun barrel ID will recoil to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 relative to the casing I2 in such manner as to compress. the spring I4; and that subsequent to absorption of the recoil force the spring I4 will act to return the gun barrel to normal position. A shoulder I9 is formed on the gun barrel I0. to cooperate with a complementary shoulder portion 20 of the casing I2 so as to limit the outward movement of the gun barrel Ill relative to the casing I2 during the counter-recoil stroke.

A sleeve 22 of generally tubular form is reducedand screwthreaded into fixed connection relation as at 24 with the casing I2 so as to extend forwardly therefrom so as to substantially enclose the spring-retainer mechanism I4'-I 6. The sleeve 22 and the retainer I6 are so relatively dimensioned and arranged that a substantial oil chamber 25 is provided therebetween. Adjacent its inner end the sleeve 22 carries in screwthreaded connected relation therewith a gland 26 which in turn supports a sealing ring 28 formed of some suitable oil-resistant and flexible substance such as neoprene, or the like. Thus, the sealing ring 28 defines the inner end of the oil chamber 25 without interfering with telescopic relative movement between the retainersleeve members in connection with recoil and counter-recoil actions of the gun. Similarly, a sealing ring 39 is mounted within the retainersleeve assembly adjacent the outer end portion thereof by means of a rigidmetal gland 32. The gland'32 is slidably mounted between the retainer-sleeve members and is backed up by an annular nut 34 which is mounted in screwthreaded relation as at. 35 upon the sleeve 22 upon final assembly of the device.

. Thus, the sealing rings 283Il are mounted relative to the sleeve 22 to define the opposite end limits of the annular oil reservoir 25 formed by the retainer. sleevev assembly, and yet the sealing rings are freely slidable relative to the retainer I6 whereby the retainer-sleeve units are relatively reciprocable without interference. Filler fittings 3B are provided in connection with the sleeve 22 ior convenience in connection with filling the space 25 with oil; and it will be understood that several of the fittings 36 may be disposed at intervals peripherally of the mechanism, as shown, so that the reservoir may be conveniently filled through at least one of the fittings irrespective of the radial disposition of the sleeve member 22. Filler plugs 31 are mounted within the openings of the fittings 3G to seal the latter.

A valve annulus 46 iscarried by the retainer l6 so as to move integrally therewith relative to the sleeve 22 in connection with recoil and counter-recoil actions. so as to substantially bridge the space between the retainer (6 and the sleeve 22, and thus to The plurality of fluid passageways therethrough; and

valve members are mounted upon the fluid passageway portions of the ring, as by being screwthreaded into connection therewith, as indicated at 42. As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the valve members are of two diiferent types, and are employed alternately or in different combinations peripherally of the annulus 40. For example, in Fig. 2, two types of valves 44-46 are illustrated as being employed alternately; and as illustrated by Fig. 3, each valve member 44 comprises a tubular casing having an intermediately disposed shoulder 41 and an externally threaded end portion 48 for. screwthreaded engagement within the corresponding threaded apertured portion 42 of the annulus 40. Each valve casing 45 is counterbored to provide a conical valve seat 49 which is adapted to engage a valve ball 50 disposed so as to be freely movable Within the casing toward and away from the valve seat 49. Adjacent its outer end the valvecasing is slightly reduced as at 5.2 without closing the opening at the end thereof to provide.

a shoulder for bearing against one end of a compression spring 54. Theother end. of the spring 4 is disposed to rest against the valve ball 50. Hence, the ball 5?). is at all times elastically urged to close upon the conical seat 49, and the de-' vice is adapted to function in, the manner of a check valve permitting fluid under pressure to move from. the left hand section. of the fluid chamber against the valve ball Silto unseat the latter and thence into the right hand section of. the fluid chamber, but not in the reverse direction.

The other. of the valve devices 46 are generally similar structurally to the valve members 44. Thus, their reduced end portions 56 correspond-. ing to the reduced end portions 52- of the valves 44 areadapted to function at their interior face portions as valve seats for the corresponding valve balls (-23. A compression spring 62 is provided within each valve casing to elastically urge the corresponding valve ball 60 toward seated position at all times; and thus the valve members 46 are adapted to function as check valves permitting movement of fluid under pressure from the right hand section of the fluid chamber into the left hand section thereof, but preventing movement of fluid therethrough in the reverse direction.

Thus, it will be understood that the valve annulus 40 is equipped with predetermined numbers of reversely directed check valve devices; and that any required number of each type of check valve will be employed in any case to provide the desired recoil and counter-recoil control operation. Thus, depending upon the sectional The annulus 40 is formed dimensioning of the fluid chamber and of the valve devices, and depending upon the elasticity characteristics of the primary compression spring l4, it will be determined in any given case that a certain number of check valves permitting fluid flow from right to left will be required to provide the desired recoil stroke damping operation; and that another certain number of reversely directed check valves will be required to provide the desired counter-recoil stroke damping operation.

The gland 32 backing the sealing ring is "mounted between the retainer l6 and the sleeve the locking nut 34 is bored as indicated at 7B at intervals peripherally thereof so as to accommodate. therewithin a plurality of compression springs F2 in such manner that the springs elastically urge the gland 32 to move away from the lock nut 34. The nut 34 is arranged to fit loosely relative to the portion I! of the retainer 16 so as'to permit air to, enter between the gland 32 and the, nut 34, whenever the'gland 32 is displaced'bythe springs 12 to move away from the nut 34,. Consequently, as fluid leaks from the chamber Z5 during service. lof -the device the gland-sealing ring assembly.323fl. is propelled inwardly by the springs '12 so as to take up the space previously occupied by the lost fluid. Consequently, sucking of air into the fluid system is avoided, and the mechanism is therefore adapted to function consistently to provide improved control. of fluid flow to and from opposite sections ofthe fluid chamber.

Thus, it will be understood that the mechanismof the invention is structurally simple and of such character that the parts thereof are adaptedto be: manufactured in quantity through means ,of relatively simple shop processes. The valve members t t-46 may be'readily made in large numbers as substantial duplicates, and assembly of the valve ball and spring and casing members thereof; may be completed by similarly turning the corresponding. casing end portions 5256 inwardly when the parts are in place. Thus, any desired combination of opposite type valve members may be assembled upon the annulus 4D; and whenever a numberv of valve members less than the number of apertures through the {11111111111549 is, required, the unused apertures may be stoppered by simple screw plug devices.

Although only, one form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent tothoseskilled-in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein. without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gun recoil control device for use in combination with a gun portion reciprocable relative to a gun support portion in response to recoil forces of said gun, said device comprising a primary recoil force resisting spring interconnecting said movable gun portion and saidgun support portion to elastically resist gun recoil forces and to urge said movable gun portion into normal position relative to saidsupport portion, a tube carried by said movable portion, a sleeve carried by said gun support portion to extend telescopically of saidtube and enclosing the latter in concentrically spaced relation therewith to provide a fluid chamber therebetween, a pair of chamber sealing glands disposed atopposite ends of said chamber and carried by said sleeve, a valve gland carried by said tube intermediately of the ends of said chamber to provide a partition dividing said chamber'into two sections, check valve means carried by said valve gland for restricting flow of fluid through said gland to and from opposite sections of said chamber, and means adjustably mounting one of said sealing glands upon said sleeve so that said gland is elastically urged to slide longitudinally of said sleeve to automatically reduce the length of said fluid chamber in accord with leakage of fluid therefrom.

2. A gun recoil control device for use in combination with a gun portion reciprocable relative to a gun support portion in response to recoil forces of said gun, said device comprising a primary recoil force resisting spring member interconnecting said movable gun portion and said gun support portion to elastically resist gun recoil forces and to urge said movable gun portion into normal position relative to said support portion, a tube carried by said movable portion, a sleeve carried by said gun support portion to extend telescopically of said tube and enclosing the latter in concentrically spaced relation therewith to provide a fluid chamber therebetween, a pair of chamber sealing glands disposed at opposite ends of said chamber and carried by said sleeve, a valve gland carried by said tube intermediately of the ends of said chamber to provide a partition dividing said chamber into two sections, and check valve means carried by said valve gland for restricting control of fluid through said gland to and from opposite sections of said chamber.

3. A gun recoil control device for use in combination with a gun portion reciprocable relative to a gun support portion in response to recoil forces of said gun, said device comprising a primary recoil force resisting spring member interconnecting said movable gun portion and said gun support portion to elastically resist gun recoil forces and to urge said movable gun portion into normal position relative to said support portion, a tube carried by said movable portion, a sleeve carried by said gun supoprt portion to extend telescopically of said tube and enclosing the latter in concentrically spaced relation therewith to provide a fluid chamber therebetween, a pair of chamber sealing glands disposed at opposite ends of said chamber and carried by said sleeve, a valve gland carried by said tube intermediately of the ends of said chamber to provide a partition dividing said chamber into two sections, and opposite type check valve means carried by said valve gland for restricting control of fluid through said gland to and from opposite sections of said chamber.

4. A gun recoil control device for use in combination with a gun portion reciprocable relative to a gun support in response to recoil forces of said gun, said device comprising a recoil force resisting spring member interconnecting said movable gun portion and said gun support to elastically resist gun recoil forces and to urge said movable gun portion into normal position relative to said support portion, a tube carried by said movable portion, a sleeve carried by said gun support to extend telescopically of said tube and enclosing the latter in concentrically spaced relation therewith to provide a fluid chamber therebetween, a pair of chamber sealing glands disposed at opposite ends of said chamber and carried by said sleeve, a valve gland carried by said tube intermediately of the ends of said chamber to provide a partition dividing said chamber into "two sections, and a plurality of oppositely directed check 'valve' devices carried by said valve gland for restricting control offluid through said gland both to and from opposite sections of said chamber.

5. A gun recoil control device for use in combination with a gun portion reciprocable relative to a gun support portion in-respons'e to recoil forces of said gun, said device comprising a recoil force resisting spring member interconnecting said movable gun portion and said gun support portion to elastically resist gun recoil forces and to urge said movable gun portion into normal position relative to said support portion, a tube carried by said movable portion, a sleeve carried by said gun support portion to extend telescopically of said tube and enclosing the latter in concentrically spaced relation therewith to provide a fluid chamber therebetween, a pair of chamber sealing glands disposed at opposite ends of said chamber and carried by said sleeve, a valve gland carried by said tube intermediately of the ends of said chamber to provide a partition dividing said chamber into two sections, and oppositely directed check valve devices carried by said valve gland for restricting control of fluid through said gland to and from opposite sections of said chamber, each of said check valve devices comprising a tubular member having an inner end reduced bore portion externally threaded for screw threaded connection upon said valve gland and an outer end enlarged bore portion enclosing a valve member and a compression spring in association therewith and having its extreme outer end wall portion flanged inwardly to provide a fluid-open seat for bearing against said valvespring unit.

6. A gun recoil control device for use in combination with a gun portion reciprocable relative to a gun support portion in response to recoil forces of said gun, said device comprising a recoil force resisting spring member interconnecting said movable gun portion and said gun support portion to elastically resist gun recoil forces and to urge said movable gun portion into normal position relative to said support portion, a tube carried by said movable portion, a sleeve carried by said gun support portion to extend telescopically of said tube and enclosing the latter in concentrically spaced relation therewith to provide a fluid chamber therebetween, a pair of chamber sealing glands disposed at opposite ends of said chamber and carried by said sleeve, a valve gland carried by said tube intermediately of the ends of said chamber to provide a partition dividing said chamber into two sections, and fluid flow control valve means comprising oppositely directed check valve devices carried by said valve gland for restricting control of fluid through said gland to and from opposite sections of said chamber, each of said check valve devices comprising a tubular casing counterbored to provide a spring valve seat therewithin and a spring pressed valve in association therewith.

'7. A gun recoil control device for use in combination with a gun portion reciprocable relative to a gun support portion in response to recoil forces of said gun, said device comprising a primary recoil force resisting spring member interconnecting said movable gun portion and said gun support portion to elastically resist gun recoil forces and to urge said movable gun portion into normal position relative to said support portion, a tube carried by said movable portion, a sleeve carried by said gun support portion to extend telescopically of said tube and enclosing the latter in concentrically spaced relation therewith to provide a fluid chamber therebetween, a pair of chamber sealing glands disposed at opposite ends of said chamber and carried by said sleeve, a valve gland carried by said tube intermediately of the ends of said chamber to provide a partition dividing said chamber into two sections, and fluid flow control valve means comprising a plurality of oppositely directed check valve devices carried by said valve gland for restricting control offluid through said gland to and from opposite sections of said chamber, each of said check valve devices comprising a tubular casing counterbored to provide a springvalve seat therewithin and a spring pressed.valve in association therewith.

JOHN C. TROT'I'ER. 

